A bomb explodes in a shopping mall in a Christian section of Beirut killing innocent people. This comes at a time when the Lebanese Nationalist forces were beginning to soften their position so as to assure elections happen on time. But unlike in the bad old days of sectarian religious wars that tore apart Lebanon, giving Syria the excuse to move troops in and effectively occupy the country, Syria itself is being blamed. Again.
"It is clear that those who carried out this attack are targeting the security and stability of the country,"opposition parliament member Faris Bouez told reporters.
"It is a political message to the (anti-Syrian) independence uprising."
And according to Lebanon's Daily Star
The blast occurred in the Alta Vista commercial center in Kaslik that houses shops, a night club and an amusement hall.
The aspect of this attack that attempts to make people not feel safe pursuing their leisure-time activities reminds me of attacks on Israel. And the aspect of the attack that attempts to promoted sectarianism and civil war reminds me of attacks in Iraq. The difference is, of course, there is no religious aspect to Syria's interest in Lebanon: it is pure control.
But then again, al Qaeda and their ilk, for all their religious posturing, just want control as well.
Because no real Muslim would do these things.
Meanwhile, the UN team investigating the murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri has completed its work and returned to New York.
"Within the next few days I expect to release the report of themission of inquiry I established in the wake of the killing. A more comprehensive investigation may well also be necessary," Annan said in Algiers.
This should be interesting.
In Iraq, Government Commandos overran an insurgent base and killed 45 bad actors, while in Baghdad, regular citizens use their right to bear arms to kill three anti-Iraqi militants.
A forceful citizen response is rare, but not unheard of in a country where conflict has become commonplace and the law allows each home to have a weapon. Early this month, police said townsmen in Wihda, 25 miles south of Baghdad, attacked and killed seven militants who were part of a group believed to be planning to raid the town.
It must be clear who has won the hearts and minds and who has lost them.
The Belmont Club, now at their new digs, asks Is the Iraqi Insurgency Dying? here and here.
And Arthur Chrenkoff fact checks the New York Times.
R.J. Rummel has more on the correlation between political/economic freedom and quality of life.
